Disclaimer—I don't own Newsies, nor any other Media references I may make. I am not profiting at all from this story.

A/n—at the beginning of each chapter it says what day of the week it is. If it says 'Still ' that means the day of the week is the same as the day before it. (duh?) If it doesn't say 'Still' before it that means it is a new day. Please R&R!

Shoutouts:

Coin: yeah, Mush as a musketeer would be so...hot! Heh heh heh...

Bobcat:Slashgoil- yeah, ALL slash couples are cute...except when people are stupid and set up the Delanceys (blanches) who would do something like that?

Sorry, other than this I got no reviews for this chapter! If you tried to review and I didn't give you a shoutout it's because something went wrong! I can't read them! My humble apologies!

(Still Friday)

Specs' PoV

"Mo-om! Dutch—um—John is coming over tonight, OK?" I yelled just before leaving the house.

"I'm not going to be here tonight!" she yelled back.

It didn't make a huge difference whether she was here or not.

"Don't worry," I reassured her, "it'll only be John."

I think that my mom is still waiting for me to hit my wild and crazy teenage phase. Little does she know it's already come and gone. Once I smoked a cigarette outside the school in the ninth grade. It made me so sick that I've never done it again.

"Bye!" I left and headed to my car. I unlocked the front door and got in.

On my way to school I did a mental check about what I had/needed.

The movie? Check.

Popcorn? Check.

Living Room Free? Check.

Dog Walked? (no interruptions) Taken Care Of.

Dutchy? Check.

By the time I was done contemplating what type of soft drink to buy I had arrived at school.

After stopping at my locker I found myself in homeroom. The announcements came on:

"Good morning students, staff, and faculty," blah, blah, blah, same old intro.

Something about the cafeteria. Band regionals. Track meets. Soccer games. Play practice. Staff meeting. Yearbook committee.

"That is all. Make good educational choices. Have a nice day."

There was a high, squeaking noise, a lot of static, and whoever did the announcements swore loudly before hanging up the receiver.

"Um.........OK........." our teacher cleared her throat, "let's get back to work."

========================

"Specs!" Dutchy ran towards me in the hall, waving his arms wildly.

I turned and grinned.

"I might be late tonight. There's play practice most of the day."

My face fell. "When did you find out?" I asked.

He looked at me as if I should know. "It was on the announcements this morning. 'Would all members of the play please report to the auditorium after homeroom for a rehearsal'. Sound familiar?"

That was completely new to me, but Dutchy was beginning to think I was brain dead so, "right, right. Sorry, I forgot. I'll.........I'll wait for you then."

"I could just take the bus, if that'd—"

"I'll wait for you."

Then I turned and ran very fast or I'd be late for my next class as well.

Mush's PoV

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Miss Larkson paces in front of us in the auditorium, "needless to say, yesterday's rehearsal was atrocious! We need more practice! Does anyone have any commitments after school?" there are a few muttered replies, "then I suggest you call home now to say you can't make them. We're staying here until everyone knows their cues, places, and lines."

No one says anything to that.

Miss Larkson continues, "now, I want everyone on stage and ready in ten minutes, no ifs, ands, or buts."

She turns on her heel and heads over to the sets, probably to give them a similar speech.

"I had a hair appointment!" complains Spring from the back row.

I see Rain shoot her a glare. "This is all your fault, you know. The rest of us knew our lines."

And just before they are about to jump into a full-on bitch fight, Miss Larkson yells that we have only nine minutes and everyone stands up and rushes about.

I see Dutchy slip out the door, maybe to use the payphone?

I run backstage and throw on my pants and shirt. In the crowded costume room I locate my cloak.

Blink stands across the room, tying on his eye patch. He grins widely and waves.

I walked over. "Missing history?" I ask.

"Yeah, you?'

"Tech." I fasten the cloak around my shoulders.

"Five minutes!" yells Miss Larkson.

"I've got to find my cloak." He gives me a quick hug and hurries to the rack with the clothes on it.

Dutchy speeds into the room in a gust of wind. He is jumping on one foot as he struggles on his boot, looking really flustered and hurried.

I find his cloak and bring it to him.

"Thanks Mush," he gasps, taking the cloak and putting it on.

"Where'd you go?" I ask.

"I had to tell Specs that I might be late meeting him tonight."

"Oh," I raise my eyebrows good-naturedly.

He laughs and smoothes out his hair.

"Act 1, scene 1!" screeches Miss Larkson from the audience.

People rush to their places.

Lights, camera, action!

A/n: that's it. See how the play gets in the way? So much fun to watch, so much trouble and inconvenience! Too bad! Review please!